Credit Union Exam Solutions Presents With Flying Colors
This podcast offers tips and advice for credit unions to succeed in NCUA examinations. Hosted by Mark Treichel, a former NCUA regional director, it shares insights from his extensive experience. The show aims to help credit union professionals prepare for exams and improve their operations. Each episode covers practical strategies and common pitfalls to avoid.
Episodes
WFC Classic: Did You Agree to That?
Summary:In this special Archive episode of With Flying Colors, Mark explores the meaning and implications of "agreed upon corrective action" in credit union examinations. Drawing from his experience at NCUA, Mark explains how this term appears on examination reports and why its proper implementation is crucial for credit unions.Key Points Covered:Mark begins by breaking down the literal m
From Defense to Offense: The CUSO Advocacy Push on Capitol Hill with Brian Lauer of NACUSO
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Federal credit unions are limited to investing 1% of their assets, in the aggregate, in credit union service organizations. That number went into the Federal Credit Union Act in the 1970s, and when NACUSO went back and researched it, they found no legislative history explaining why 1% was chosen. It is, as NACUSO general counse
WFC Classic: Decoding the Examiner's Guide and National Supervision Policy Manual
The Examiner's Guide and National Supervision Policy Manual (NSPM) govern how NCUA examinations work. In this episode, Mark Treichel, Todd Miller, and Steve Farrar explain what credit unions need to know about both documents. Key takeaways: • The NSPM standardized examination procedures after years of regional inconsistency • The Examiner's Guide is de-emphasized but its reference sect
Does Trump Know NCUA Has Zero Board Members?
For the first time in its history, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) has zero board members. Not one. Not two. Zero.In this emergency episode, Mark Treichel walks through how the agency got here and, more importantly, what it means for credit unions in the meantime.Kyle Hauptman’s six-year term expired in August 2025. Under the Federal Credit Union Act, a board member may ke
The First Federal Home Loan Bank Oversight Hearing in 15 Years with Ryan Donovan CEO of the Council of Federal Home Loan Banks
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Ryan Donovan, CEO of the Council of Federal Home Loan Banks, joins Mark Treichel to walk through what came out of the first Federal Home Loan Bank oversight hearing in 15 years — and what credit unions should take from it.The Federal Home Loan Bank System is not a well-known system, as Ryan puts it, so the testimony started wit
WFC Classic: The Art of Commercial Lending and the Role of Credit Culture
In this archive episode of With Flying Colors, host Mark Treichel welcomes Vin Vitton, retired NCUA Senior Credit Specialist and longtime commercial banker, for an insightful discussion on credit culture—what it is, why it matters, and how it shapes a credit union’s lending success.Vin draws on his unique experience working on all three sides of the desk—as a lender, borrower, and regulat
Lenwood Brooks of Performance Trust on NCUA's Board of One & More
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/ In this episode, Mark Treichel sits down with Lenwood Brooks — former chief of staff to NCUA Chairman Rodney Hood, former Director of Government and Industry Relations at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, and now a managing director at Performance Trust Capital Partners — for a wide-ranging conversation about what happens
WFC Classic: Why Does NCUA Ask to Meet with Your Board without CU Staff Present?
Why Does NCUA Ask to Meet with CU Board without CU Staff Present?Join Mark Treichel and his team as they delve into the rare but important topic of why the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) might ask to meet with a credit union's board of directors without staff present. In this episode, Mark, Steve Farrar, and Todd Miller share personal experiences and insights from their exten
State Interchange Laws and the Threat to the Dual Charter System with Jason Stverak of DCUC
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/State-level interchange legislation is no longer a one-state story, and a federal preemption ruling has left credit unions on opposite sides of a line they did not draw. Mark Treichel, former Executive Director of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), talks with Jason Stverak, Chief Advocacy Officer of the Defense Cr
WFC Classic: Model Risk, Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk, ERM & More
All models are wrong. Some are useful.
Bank Buys, CUSO Acquisitions, and Mergers of Equals: The 2026 Acquisition Landscape with Mike Bell & Justin Gingerich
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Credit union acquisition activity in 2026 tells a story the headline numbers hide. Only four or five bank purchases have been announced so far this year — but according to Michael Bell of Honigman LLP, that is not a slowdown. It is a market in which banks are bidding more aggressively than ever, and credit unions are losing mor
WFC Classic: Corporate Governance in Credit Unions: What Matters Most to NCUA
This Archive Thursday episode of With Flying Colors revisits a timely and important topic: corporate governance. Mark is joined by former NCUA colleagues Todd Miller and Steve Farrar to explore why governance issues are at the heart of many troubled credit unions.They cover:How poor governance can sink an institution — and how strong governance can turn it around.The importance of tone a
Trust Is Not an Internal Control: David Reed on Fraud and the Supervisory Committee
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/In this episode of With Flying Colors, host Mark Treichel welcomes back David Reed of Reed & Jolly, PLLC — a longtime credit union attorney, former general counsel, and self-described “recovering supervisory committee member” who served a decade on a supervisory committee, including six or seven years as chair. David reache
WFC Classic: Liquidity — An NCUA Perspective
"Liquidity Management: Reading Between the Lines of NCUA's Latest Guidance"In this insightful episode, Mark Treichel and former NCUA Capital Markets Specialist Todd Miller analyze NCUA's April 2023 liquidity webinar and provide their expert take on the agency's current perspective on liquidity management.Episode Highlights:Todd Miller shares his 34-year experience at NCUA, including his r
CAMELS Gets an Overhaul: Inside the NCUA’s Proposed Changes
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/For the first time in 30 years, the CAMELS rating system is being rewritten. In this episode, Mark Treichel is joined by Todd Miller and Steve Farrar — all former NCUA — to break down the proposal moving through the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) and what it means for credit unions.The headline chang
WFC Classic: What It Means When NCUA Requires an Organizational Review
This week we’re bringing back an archive episode of With Flying Colors that remains just as relevant today as when it was first recorded.I’m joined by Steve Farrar and Todd Miller, both longtime NCUA veterans and now part of my team at Credit Union Exam Solutions. Together, we break down what it means if NCUA directs your credit union to conduct an organizational review—and why this is on
Q1 2026 NCUA Data: A Quiet Quarter With One Loud Number
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Mark Treichel sits down with former NCUA colleagues Steve Farrar and Todd Miller to review the credit union industry data for the quarter ending March 31, 2026. The consensus: a quiet, healthy quarter with steady capital, improving earnings, and incrementally better liquidity — alongside a few signals worth a board’s attention.
WFC Classic: NCUA's Net Economic Value (NEV) Framework
Episode Summary:In this episode of With Flying Colors, host Mark Treichel is joined by former NCUA capital markets expert Todd Miller to discuss the latest updates to NCUA’s Interest Rate Risk (IRR) Supervisory Framework. Following NCUA’s recent stakeholder webinar, we break down key takeaways, including changes to risk categorization, the elimination of the extreme risk rating, and how t
Washington Roundtable: The NCUA Board in Flux With McKechnie, Bacino and Swann
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Mark Treichel hosts a Washington roundtable with John McKechnie, Geeff Bacino, and Alonzo Swann — each with deep NCUA and credit union experience — to break down the forces reshaping the agency this summer.The conversation opens with the NCUA board itself: nominee John Crews and his likely path through a Senate Banking confirma
WFC Classic: Avoiding Document of Resolutions: 10 Essential Strategies
Episode Description:In this special archive episode of With Flying Colors, Mark shares valuable insights from his years of experience in credit union examination and consulting. Broadcasting straight from the beach, he breaks down the top 10 ways credit unions can avoid receiving a Document of Resolution (DOR) from the NCUA. Whether you're preparing for an exam or just looking to fine-tun
NCUA Sues for $95 Million — and Names How the Money Vanished - Jackson Area FCU Revisited
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/In May, NCUA conserved Jackson Area Federal Credit Union, and I recorded an episode saying I suspected the reported cash wasn’t real. This follow-up walks through what the public record now confirms.The institution reported about $162 million in assets and 9.2% net worth, but only 28% of assets in loans, roughly 66% in cash, an
WFC Classic: What Should Be In Your Board Monthly Package
Episode SummaryIn this archive episode of With Flying Colors, Mark sits down with Todd Miller — longtime NCUA expert, former Director of Special Actions, and member of the CU Exam Solutions team — to break down one of the most misunderstood and under-optimized tools in credit union governance: the board package.Boards get in trouble not because they don’t care, Todd explains, but because
WFC Classic: Rating Commercial Credit Risk — What NCUA Expects
| WFC Classic: Rating Commercial Credit Risk — What NCUA Expects
NCUA’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan: What Changed and Why It Matters
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Episode: NCUA’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan: What Changed and Why It MattersIn this solo episode, Mark Treichel walks through NCUA’s newly released 2026–2030 Strategic Plan and compares it section by section against the prior 2022–2026 plan. The contrast tells credit union leaders exactly where the agency is going — and which of t
WFC Classic: Conservatorship - When NCUA Removes the Board of Directors
WFC Classic: Conservatorship - When NCUA Removes the Board of Directors
From Appeal to Proposed Rule: How One Credit Union's Field of Membership Fight Reshaped NCUA Policy with Rick Mumm
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Mark Treichel sits down with Rick Mumm — a 34-year NCUA veteran who spent 26 of those years in field of membership work, including bylaws, mergers, liquidations, and charter expansions — to walk through NCUA's proposed rule change on customer-client relationships in field of membership decisions.This proposal is unusual in two
WFC Classic: MBL Global Cash Flow & Credit Proposals
| WFC Classic: — MBL Global Cash Flow & Credit Proposals — Vin Vieten
$16 Million In Fraud from the Inside: A Walk Through NCUA’s Latest IG Report
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Mark Treichel walks through NCUA’s most recent Inspector General semi-annual report to Congress, covering the April through September 2025 reporting period. Seven credit union failures occurred during the cycle, with internal fraud driving the two largest losses for a combined total of more than $16 million. Mark breaks down th
WFC Classic: So You Are A CAMELS 3 - Now What?
FC Classic: So You Are A CAMELS 3 - Now What?
Emergency Podcast - NCUA Conserves Jackson Area FCU: Reading Between the Call Report Lines
In this episode of With Flying Colors, Mark Treichel walks through NCUA’s May 6 conservatorship of Jackson Area Federal Credit Union of Jackson, Mississippi. Drawing on 33 years at NCUA — including responsibility for some of the agency’s largest historical conservatorships — Mark analyzes the publicly available call report data and explains why this case is unusual.The credit union report
WFC Classic ALCO Part 2 & In Practice: Essential Reports Analysis and Risk Management
WFC Classic ALCO Part 2 & In Practice: Essential Reports Analysis and Risk Management
A New Way to Invest: How the ALM First Loan Fund Works
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/In this episode of With Flying Colors, Mark Treichel sits down with Travis Goodman, CFA, Principal at ALM First Financial Advisors, and Mark Sun, Portfolio Manager at ALM First, to discuss the recent launch of the ALM First Loan Fund — the first non-registered investment fund approved by the National Credit Union Administration
WFC Classic: • ALCO Governance Essentials: Building an Effective Committee Structure
WFC Classic governance issue and ALCO In Practice: Essential Reports, Analysis & Risk Management
Inside the NCUA Annual Report — A Strong System with Quiet Warning Signs with Mike Macchiarola
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Mark Treichel is joined by Mike Macchiarola, Partner and CEO of Olden Lane, for a structured deep-dive into the most recent NCUA Annual Report. Mike organizes his analysis into seven interlocking themes — what he calls the Magnificent Seven — and the conversation walks through each one with quantitative detail and practical imp
WFC Classic: Complaints and Regional Appeals of Examination Issues
WFC Classic Episode on Appealing ANYTHING to NCUA.
Beyond the One-Year Budget: What Strong Credit Unions Are Doing Differently with Rob Johnson of CMyers
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Mark is joined by Rob Johnson, president and a principal owner of c. myers, for a wide-ranging conversation on strategic planning, capital strength, and the habits separating the strongest credit unions from the rest right now. The discussion covers:• Why a one-year budget is already wrong by January, and why multi-year s
NCUA’s Deregulation Wave Hits Loan Participation: What the Change Means for Your Credit Union
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/In this episode of With Flying Colors, Mark Treichel breaks down NCUA’s latest proposed rule — one that would eliminate the long-standing loan participation regulation that has been in place since 2006. This is part of NCUA’s broader deregulatory push, driven in part by an executive order mandating a ten-to-one ratio of rule el
Inside a Code 4: What NCUA Doesn't Tell You
In this episode, Mark Treichel sits down with Steve Farrar and Todd Miller — both former NCUA veterans with over 60 years of combined regulatory experience — to break down exactly what a Code 4 means for your credit union, your board, and your relationships with every lender you work with.Steve spent 15 years as a Problem Case Officer on the West Coast before moving to NCUA's Division of
Fact-Checking the ABA: What the Data Actually Shows on Credit Union Business Lending
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/In this episode, Mark Treichel responds directly to a podcast released by the American Bankers Association (ABA) titled “Are Credit Union Commercial Loans Risky Business?” — a 12-minute episode that contains significant factual errors, conflates distinct regulatory mechanisms, and presents advocacy as analysis.Mark draws on 33
2025 CAMEL Trends: What the Full-Year Data Actually Tells You
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/In this episode, Mark Treichel walks through the full-year 2025 CAMEL code data across all four quarters, providing a comprehensive analysis of where the industry stands and what the numbers mean for credit unions at every asset tier.The episode opens with context: in September 2024, then-National Credit Union Administration Ch
Merger Mania: What Thirty Quarters of NCUA Data Reveal About Credit Union Consolidation
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/In this solo episode of With Flying Colors, host Mark Treichel presents a comprehensive data analysis of credit union mergers using thirty quarters of NCUA quarterly merger reports, covering activity from the third quarter of 2018 through 2025. The dataset includes 1,901 credit unions involved in merger activity, 1,298 complete
The Two Documents That Shape Your NCUA Examination
Two documents shape how NCUA conducts credit union examinations: the Examiner's Guide and the National Supervision Policy Manual (NSPM). In this episode, Mark Treichel sits down with former NCUA veterans Todd Miller and Steve Farrar to break down what credit unions need to know about both. The discussion covers the history behind these documents—including why NCUA's six regions once oper
Margin, Membership, and Mounting Risk: Unpacking Q4 2025 with Farrar, Miller and Bauer
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/In this episode, Mark Treichel is joined by Steve Farrar, Todd Miller, and Dennis Bauer for their quarterly review of the National Credit Union Administration call report data. The group walks through the Q4 2025 numbers across each component of the CAMEL framework, discussing what the data is showing, where the risks are build
From Guidelines to Guardrails: Getting Credit Union Policies Right
In this episode of With Flying Colors, Mark Treichel sits down with Todd Miller to explore what makes credit union policies effective — and what separates the policy frameworks at high-performing credit unions from those that consistently generate examination findings. Todd, who spent over 33 years at NCUA including a decade as Director of Special Actions, draws on his experience examinin
Rate Caps, Interchange, and the Banking Lobby: What Credit Unions Are Up Against with Jason Stverak
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Episode SummaryMark Treichel sits down with Jason Stverak, Chief Advocacy Officer at the Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC), for a wide-ranging conversation on the policy threats credit unions are currently facing. From the government shutdown's impact on Coast Guard members to the proposed 10% interest rate cap, interchange r
Don’t Create a Vacuum: Crisis Communication for Credit Unions with John McKechnie
When a crisis hits your credit union—whether it’s a cyber breach, ransomware attack, or liquidity event—how you communicate in those first hours and days can define the outcome. In this episode, Mark Treichel sits down with John McKechnie to discuss crisis communication lessons learned from decades in the credit union industry. John served at CUNA for over 18 years before joining NCUA, w
My Takeaways from Monday at GAC: Structure, Supervision, and Stablecoins
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Episode Title: My Takeaways from Monday at GAC: Structure, Supervision, and StablecoinsIn this episode, I share my takeaways from Monday at GAC in Washington, D.C.This was my first GAC in 2000 as Deputy Executive Director at NCUA. I’ve attended more than 20 since. It was good to be back in D.C., reconnect with colleagues, clien
LUAs Explained: From Informal Actions to Formal Commitments
Mark Treichel sits down with Steve Farrar and Todd Miller to break down Letters of Understanding and Agreement—NCUA's formal enforcement tool that requires board-level commitment. With over 100 combined years of NCUA experience, including Steve's authorship of NCUA's enforcement manual, this episode delivers insider perspective on what LUAs mean for credit unions, how boards should approa
It's Never as Bad as You Think: Suicide, Fraud, and the Stories I've Never Told
Episode Title: It's Never as Bad as You Think: Suicide, Fraud, and the Stories I've Never ToldContent Warning: This episode discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).Episode Description: The death of 25-year-old Vikings wide receiver Rondale Moore this weekend brought back memories Mark has never shared publicly. I
Your Right to Appeal: Navigating NCUA's Formal Process
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Episode Description: When your credit union receives an examination result you believe is wrong, what are your options? In this episode, Mark Treichel walks through NCUA's formal appeal process from start to finish — the timeline, the levels of review, what you can actually appeal, and how to think about whether it makes sense
NCUA’s Stablecoin Proposal: What Credit Unions Need to Know Now
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/The NCUA has issued a proposed rule implementing the GENIUS Act, establishing a federal licensing framework for payment stablecoin issuers.For the first time, credit union subsidiaries could apply to become Permitted Payment Stablecoin Issuers (PPSIs) — but only under strict supervisory standards.In this episode, Mark breaks do
Why Concentration Risk Still Trips Up Credit Unions
In this special archive episode of With Flying Colors, Mark Treichel is joined by Steve Farr and Todd Miller — both former NCUA leaders — to revisit a foundational topic that continues to shape credit union supervision today: risk appetite, risk culture, and concentration risk.While regulators often emphasize capital levels, history shows that capital alone cannot offset poor risk governa
NCUA in Transition: What Hauptman’s Move Means with Bacino, Swann & McKechnie
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/In this episode of With Flying Colors, Mark Treichel is joined by former NCUA leaders Geoff Bacino, Alonzo Swann, and John McKechnie for a timely and candid discussion about Chairman Kyle Hauptman’s appointment to the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) — and what it signals for the future of the NCUA.While the an
Emergency Pod: NCUA Board Chair Kyle Hauptman Leaving for PCAOB?
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Chairman Hauptman’s Statement on Appointment to PCAOBALEXANDRIA, VA (January 30, 2026) – National Credit Union Administration Chairman Kyle S. Hauptman issued the following statement after being named as a member of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB).“I am grateful to President Donald J. Trump and Chairman Pa
What Credit Unions Should Really Prepare for After NCUA’s 2026 Priority Letter
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/In this episode of With Flying Colors, Mark Treichel is joined by former NCUA senior leaders Todd Miller and Steve Farrar for a deep dive into NCUA’s 2026 Supervisory Priorities Letter — and what it means in the real world for credit unions heading into the next exam cycle. Deep Dive on NCUA Priority Lett…With significant staff
Breaking: NCUA Moves to Remove a Major Barrier to Board Service
In this emergency update of With Flying Colors, Mark breaks down a newly proposed NCUA rule that could meaningfully reduce barriers to serving on a federal credit union board.The proposal would allow federal credit unions to reimburse or directly pay reasonable dependent care costs for volunteer officials when those costs are incurred while attending board meetings or performing official
Quick Take on NCUA's Exam Plans for 2026
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/In this special preview episode of With Flying Colors, Mark Treichel tees up an upcoming live, on-stage discussion from the Florida Q’s Cruise with team members Steve Farr and Todd Miller.Just days before the cruise, NCUA released its 2026 Supervisory Priorities Letter, and as always, that letter gives us important clues about
$2.5 Billion, Egos, and Why Big Numbers Need Context
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/The clash between President Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has now expanded beyond interest rates — and into a $2.5 billion building renovation at the Fed.Some see waste. Some see politics. Most people just see a number that’s hard to comprehend.In this episode, I take a middle-ground look at what’s really going
Trump Demands 10% Credit Card Rates: Can He Do This?
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/President Trump has called for a one-year cap on credit card interest rates at 10%. It’s a headline-grabbing proposal — but can he actually do it, and what would it really mean for consumers, banks, and credit unions?In this episode, Mark Treichel breaks down:Why presidents can “call for” caps but can’t impose them unilaterally
Understanding Examiner Findings, Supplementary Facts, and DORs
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/NCUA exam reports often contain more than meets the eye.Examiner findings, supplementary facts, and documents of resolution may look like routine supervisory language — but each serves a distinct purpose and sends a different signal to credit union boards and management.In this episode of With Flying Colors, Mark Treichel is jo
Teamwork Under Pressure: Lessons from an Olympic Gold Medalist
This is a classic episode of With Flying Colors—and a rare one that steps slightly outside the credit union lane for a reason.As teamwork becomes an increasingly critical theme heading into 2026, this conversation felt worth revisiting.In this episode, Mark sits down with Joe Jacoby, an Olympic gold medalist and performance coach, to explore what high-performing teams really look like whe
Credit Unions in Q3 2025: Stability Returns, Pressures Remain
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/In this quarterly roundtable episode of With Flying Colors, Mark Treichel is joined by former NCUA executives Dennis Bauer, Steve Farrar, and Todd Miller to break down the NCUA Q3 2025 Quarterly Credit Union Data Summary.The discussion highlights a key theme: the credit union system is gradually returning to a more normal opera
NCUA Regulation Updates: Audits, Cyber Guidance, and Corporate Rules
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/NCUA has launched a new Deregulation and Simplification Project, signaling a shift toward clearer, more flexible rules—without weakening safety and soundness.In this episode of With Flying Colors, Mark Treichel breaks down the four proposed regulatory changes released by NCUA and explains what they mean in practice for credit u
Demographics, Deposits & the Consolidation Wave — With Dan Prezioso of Olden Lane
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/In this episode of With Flying Colors, Mark Treichel speaks with Dan Prezioso, Partner at Olden Lane, about the demographic shift reshaping credit unions and why deposit competition is entering a new era.Dan shares data and insights from multiple national surveys, macro trends, and firsthand M&A activity, including:Why stra
Monthly Board Meeting Packages with Todd Miller
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Episode SummaryIn this archive episode of With Flying Colors, Mark sits down with Todd Miller — longtime NCUA expert, former Director of Special Actions, and member of the CU Exam Solutions team — to break down one of the most misunderstood and under-optimized tools in credit union governance: the board package.Boards get in tr
Understanding Risk Management: Culture, Appetite & Action
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Overview In this episode, we break down the fundamentals of risk management for credit unions — what it really means, why it matters at every asset size, and how boards and executives can build a resilient framework that supports safe, sustainable growth. blog risk appetiteWhat We CoverThe Three Pillars of Risk ManagementRisk C
Geoff Bacino - John McKechnie & Alonzo Swann - an EX- NCUA Roundtable
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/This week on With Flying Colors, I’m joined by three longtime colleagues from my days at NCUA — John McKechnie, Alonzo Swann, and Geoff Bacino — for a lively roundtable on where the agency stands today, what’s working, and what’s at risk.Together, we revisit our shared time inside NCUA and discuss how leadership, budgets, and s
Facing the Challenges of a CAMEL Code 4
This is a special Archive Thursday episode of With Flying Colors. In this conversation with Steve Farrar and Todd Miller, we explore what it really means when a credit union is downgraded to a CAMEL Code 4.We discuss the implications for NCUA supervision, administrative actions, and how examiners begin building a formal record. You’ll learn about the added burden of frequent exams, the ro
Succession Planning: From Policy to Practice with David Reed
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/In this episode of With Flying Colors, Mark Treichel sits down with David Reed of Reed & Jolly to dive deep into the NCUA’s new succession planning rule and what it means for credit unions across the country.Too often, boards and executives focus on writing a policy—but not on the real-world practice of finding and preparin
The Art of Commercial Lending and the Role of Credit Culture
In this archive episode of With Flying Colors, host Mark Treichel welcomes Vin Vitton, retired NCUA Senior Credit Specialist and longtime commercial banker, for an insightful discussion on credit culture—what it is, why it matters, and how it shapes a credit union’s lending success.Vin draws on his unique experience working on all three sides of the desk—as a lender, borrower, and regulat
Why Raising Deposit Insurance Could Hurt Credit Unions
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/In this solo episode, Mark Treichel breaks down a hot topic out of Washington: a Senate proposal to raise FDIC deposit insurance coverage from $250,000 to $10 million. Backed by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Senator Elizabeth Warren, the idea is gaining traction — but what would it mean for credit unions?Mark explores:Wh
Corporate Governance in Credit Unions: What Matters Most to NCUA
This Archive Thursday episode of With Flying Colors revisits a timely and important topic: corporate governance. Mark is joined by former NCUA colleagues Todd Miller and Steve Farrar to explore why governance issues are at the heart of many troubled credit unions.They cover:How poor governance can sink an institution — and how strong governance can turn it around.The importance of tone a
Elizabeth Eurgubian: Behind the Curtain at NCUA’s Communications Office
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/In this episode of With Flying Colors, I sit down with Elizabeth Eurgubian, Partner at Atlas Advocacy and former Director of External Affairs and Communications at the NCUA. Elizabeth brings a wealth of experience spanning the Federal Reserve, CFPB, Sallie Mae, ICBA, CUNA, and her time inside the regulator’s office.We discuss:H
Navigating NCUA’s Code 3 Challenges with Todd Miller and Steve Farrar
This is a special Archive Thursday episode of With Flying Colors. In this conversation with Todd Miller and Steve Farrar, we dive into what happens when a credit union is downgraded to a CAMEL Code 3.We explore how NCUA approaches Code 3 institutions, what extra exams and follow-ups to expect, the impact of documents of resolution and regional director letters, and why boards and manageme
Trump, Reputation Risk, and NCUA’s New Rule
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/In this solo episode of With Flying Colors, Mark Treichel breaks down the NCUA’s proposed rule to eliminate reputation risk from its supervisory program — and the political spotlight surrounding it.Mark explains:Why the N C U A is codifying the removal of reputation risk into regulation.How codification makes the change harder
What It Means When NCUA Requires a CU to Conduct an Organizational Review
This week we’re bringing back an archive episode of With Flying Colors that remains just as relevant today as when it was first recorded.I’m joined by Steve Farrar and Todd Miller, both longtime NCUA veterans and now part of my team at Credit Union Exam Solutions. Together, we break down what it means if NCUA directs your credit union to conduct an organizational review—and why this is on
Join Us at Sea: The 2026 CUES Cruise Awaits
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/ In this episode of With Flying Colors, host Mark Treichel sits down with Scott Gladden and Kenny Ray Mitchell of Innovations Credit Union to preview the CUES Florida Council Cruise happening January 16–20, 2026. This unique event combines professional development, networking, and a Caribbean getaway—all tailored for credit uni
Why Does NCUA Ask to Meet with Your Board without CU Staff Present?
In this special archive replay of With Flying Colors, Mark Treichel is joined by his colleagues Steve Farrar and Todd Miller — both former senior leaders at NCUA — to discuss why regulators sometimes ask to meet directly with a credit union’s board of directors without management present.They break down the nuances, including:When it’s routine vs. when it’s unusual.Why NCUA may ask to mee
What NCUA’s 23% Staff Cuts Really Mean for Credit Unions
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Episode Overview: In this episode of With Flying Colors, Mark unpacks NCUA’s proposed 2026–2027 budget — a spending plan that reduces staff by 23%, cuts contractors by a third, and reshapes how credit unions will be supervised.What you’ll learn:Why NCUA’s staff will shrink to 967 employees — the lowest in over 20 yearsWhich off
Credit Union Business Lending: Lessons, Risks, and Opportunities with Mark Ritter
www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Episode Summary In this episode of With Flying Colors, I sit down with Mark Ritter, CEO of Member Business Financial Services (MBFS) and host of Credit Union Conversations. Mark brings decades of experience in credit union business lending, having built MBFS from a three-person startup into a nationwide CUSO serving over 60 emp
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